iPhone 6 'larger' than Android rivals

The likelihood of Apple releasing an iPhone 6 with a screen
larger than the current and previous models just got a little
greater.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, "sources familiar with the matter"
confirm longstanding rumours that Apple will release a 4.7-inch
iPhone, an increase over the current 4-inch models; as well as a
5.5-inch alternative, dwarfing the circa-5-inch Android competition
currently on sale from Samsung, HTC and Sony.

Over the last few months various components have been
photographed that allegedly unveil aspects of the new iPhone's
design. These include the outer casing, which reveals a redesign
aesthetic for the new handset, as well as the screen. Although
entirely unconfirmed, historically these leaked designs regularly
provide accurate first looks as the hardware originates from within
the factories building prototypes and early production units.

If Apple does increase the size of the screen and chassis it
will potentially create room for a larger battery. It also raises
questions about screen resolution, which is important for anybody
who regularly purchases apps from Apple's App Store. When Apple
started making iPhones with its "Retina Display", software
developers had to start producing artwork and code that supported
the significantly higher resolution of the iPhone 4. This may
happen again if Apple increases resolution further.

Alternatively -- as it did with the most recent iPad mini with
Retina Display -- Apple could keep the same resolution the iPhone
5S and 5C provides, but simply make the pixels that make up the
screen slightly larger to fill the increased space. This scenario
seems the most likely and would allow Apple to maintain parity
between all of its devices and software.

Apple typically announces new iPhones in September, with
commercial availability following a few weeks after. Should this be
true of 2014, those with contracts up for renewal between September
and the end of the year may want to hold off upgrading if a larger
iPhone sounds appealing.